TREES, SHRUBS, VINES AND PLANTS. 367 



method of uprooting the undesirable plants with an old knife or 

 some suitable garden tool. One of the best ways of keeping down 

 the weeds is to encourage the grass by generous treatment, as it 

 is where the grass is thin and the soil is poor that the weeds grow 

 most vigorously. 



Yearly dressing with fertilizer of some kind is necessary to 

 the best condition of any lawn. As a rule, commercial fertilizers 

 do not give the permanent effect secured through using well- 

 rotted manure. Pulverized sheep-manure, wood-ashes, bone- 

 dust, or fine rich soil, or humus, may be used to advantage. The 

 application should be made in early spring, so that spring rains will 

 carry the plant-food well into the soil. As has already been said, 

 watering, for the old lawn as well as for the new, should be done 

 by some means that affords a fine spray of long duration, rather 

 than by a deluge from a coarse nozzle. 



Frequent mowing is essent'al to the well-being of any lawn. 

 By it the growth of coarse seed-stalks is prevented, and the grass 

 is kept smooth and of good texture. A carrier for catching the 

 grass as it is cut by the mower is a great convenience, and, espe- 

 cially in the case of a new lawn, avoids the danger of uprooting 

 the grass by raking too vigorously. The rolling action of^the 

 lawn mower is also beneficial. 



